The roof on the Jay Public Works Department barn built in 1977 is “leaking quite significantly,” Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere. Jay selectpersons voted Monday to put the roof replacement out to bid. The town purchased the barn for $100,000 in 1998. It abuts the garage at the Public Works Department on Jay Hill, off Route 4. (Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal)

JAY — Selectpersons voted 3-1 on Monday night to put the replacement of the roof on the Public Works Department barn out to bid with four options.

Townspeople voted in 1998 to buy the building adjacent to the town garage for $100,000. It is believed the shingles on the building built in 1977 are original

The roof is leaking “quite significantly,” according to Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere. Public Works Director John Johnson said there is leaking in one corner. The building is used for cold storage and equipment, and is unheated.

There is a building reserve account for the Public Works Department, LaFreniere said.

After much discussion and some recommendations by former Selectperson Tom Goding, a contractor, selectpersons decided to request bids on four options: To strip and shingle the roof; shingle over the existing shingles; strip the roof and put metal roofing on; and put strapping down over the existing shingles and put metal on the roof.

If the roof is stripped, an ice and water shield would need to be put down prior to re-roofing the building, which is about 100 feet long.

The requirements agreed on were to develop a specification sheet, have bids back by Dec. 20, and to have the project done by May 30, 2018. Contractors would also need show proof of insurances, including liability and workers’ compensation, and references.

Vice Chairman Tim DeMillo asked if there would be any advantages to taking the two cupolas down.

Goding said he would leave them up because people like to like to look at them. There is a weathervane featuring an older vehicle on each of the cupolas.

Selectperson Keith Cornelio opposed the vote. He was in favor of putting the project out to bid in the spring and was concerned about adding more weight to the building if the roof shingles are not stripped. He also agreed with Selectperson Judy Diaz that they could get a bid now. He favored the project being done in the spring. 

Diaz, DeMillo and McGrane favored the vote. Chairman Terry Bergeron was absent because he was out of state.

Selectpersons also voted 3-1 with McGrane opposed to get bids on replacing two trucks at the Public Works Department with one. McGrane wanted to postpone the purchase for a year until after the town paid its last $1.33 million payment to Verso Corp. in regard to a three-year tax dispute settlement.

The department has one 2008 crew club cab pickup truck that has rust and other detrimental issues. 

DeMillo said they could get rid of two roughly 10-year-old trucks and get one.

McGrane suggested they go one more year before replacing the truck.

“We are trying to stretch them out as long as we can,” town mechanic Danny Latham said. 

He said they would be putting more into the truck to keep it running than what it’s worth.

There is also a 2007 F350 truck at the Transfer Station that could be used as part of the trade-in package to buy one crew club cab truck.

The department has an equipment reserve fund.

Johnson was directed to get trade values on the two trucks and bids on purchase prices for another three-quarter-ton truck. Johnson said they would need a plow and heated mirrors for backing up purposes.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

Jay selectpersons decided Monday to put the replacement of the roof on the Jay Public Works Department barn built in 1977 out to bid. The building is “quite significantly” leaking, Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said prior to the meeting. The town bought the barn for $100,000 in 1998. It abuts the garage at the Public Works Department on Jay Hill, off Route 4. (Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal)

The roof on the Jay Public Works Department barn built in 1977 is leaking “quite significantly,” Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said. Selectpersons opted Monday to put the roof replacement out to bid. (Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal)